UFC President Dana White during the final press conference ahead of the fight featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor, slated for Aug. 26 at the T-Mobile Arena, at the Ka Theatre at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto

The UFC will return to Abu Dhabi for the first time since 2014 when UFC 242 hits the market on Sept. 7.

It will be the first card of a new deal that will bring annual events with at least one title fight to the United Arab Emirates capital for the next five years.

A partnership between the UFC and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism was announced late Sunday night.

“We are making a long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi because we have had great success in that market,” UFC president Dana White said in a news release. “The demand from our fans to bring UFC back to Abu Dhabi has been overwhelming, and over the next five years, DCT Abu Dhabi will help us deliver some spectacular UFC championship fights to the UAE.”

No fights have been announced for the card, though lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has indicated he expects to headline the September event in a title unification bout against interim champ Dustin Poirier.

In addition to the Fight Night card in 2014, UFC 112 was held in Abu Dhabi in 2010. Each of the events was held in a temporary outdoor venue. No location has been announced for UFC 242.

Hall helps grant wishes

There were a lot of smiling faces at UFC headquarters Monday when the organization was part of the largest reveal the Southern Nevada Make-A-Wish chapter has ever done.

UFC middleweight Uriah Hall may have flashed the biggest grin of all as he participated in the festivities.

“For me, personally, I love this,” said the Las Vegan, who has won two of his past three fights. “I used to teach children and I understand the value of giving them something back to let them grow. For these kids where they are, they don’t really have a lot so to grant a wish for them I’m sure is a huge thing.”

The event was held in coordination with World Wish Day 2019. Twelve local children had their wish granted at the event, including several Disney trips and a shopping spree in Los Angeles.

According to Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada president and CEO Caroline Ciocca, UFC raised more than $250,000 last year to help grant wishes.

“Our generous partner, UFC, has once again stepped up to help us make dreams come true,” she said. “This event and partnership is the perfect way to mark World Wish Day in Southern Nevada.”

Hardy likens himself to Mike

Former NFL standout Greg Hardy earned his first official UFC win Saturday night when he knocked out Dmitrii Smoliakov in the first round of their UFC Fight Night bout in Sunrise, Florida.

Hardy wasn’t shy about hyping his own potential as a fighter.

“These heights have been reached yet,” Hardy said. “This is going make Bo Jackson look like a joke. I’m the fight-sports-athlete version of what (Michael) Jordan can be. This is just getting started. We’re scratching the surface, basically.”

Hardy is 4-1 as a pro with the lone loss coming by disqualification in his UFC debut in January.

McGregor return near?

Former UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor may technically still be retired, but his return to competition is starting to appear inevitable.

After a fan tweeted to McGregor to tell him he should just enjoy his life and keep investing and making money instead of putting himself through the rigors of fighting anymore, the star fighter responded on social media.

“I hear you but I love it dearly,” McGregor wrote. “If I am being honest with myself I don’t think I will ever be able to fully walk away from fighting. We are all fighters in this world and each of us will be fighting for the rest of our time here. So why not do it live on PPV, baby. Pop a bottle!”

I hear you but I love it dearly. If I am being honest with myself I don’t think I will ever be able to fully walk away from fighting.
We are all fighters in this world and each of us will be fighting for the rest of our time here. So why not do it live on PPV baby. Pop a bottle! https://t.co/5C5w2Awis7

Shevchenko says defending the UFC flyweight belt is her number one challenge

UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko claimed the vacant title when she defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231 last December. She will put the belt on the line for the first time in Chicago, Ill., when she faces Jessica Eye at UFC 238 on June 8.

UFC title contender Jessica Eye says her move to Las Vegas gives her an edge

Ohio native Jessica Eye says she moved to Las Vegas to get an edge in performance ahead of facing UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 238 in Chicago, Ill., on June 8.

Greg Hardy, former NFL star, on MMA knockout

The former NFL star needed just 17 seconds to score a knockout on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series (Adam Hill/Review-Journal)

UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo is coming up to the bantamweight division to battle Marlon Moraes for the vacant belt on June 8 at UFC 238. Moraes said Cejudo will regret going after a second title in a new division and added that he thinks his path will cross with former champion TJ Dillashaw in the future.

Paige VanZant details her arm injury, when she can return - VIDEO

UFC strawweight Paige VanZant was briefly linked to fight at UFC 236, but had to withdraw from the bout due to a broken arm. As a guest on the RJ Ringside Podcast, she detailed the injury and also spoke about joining the M-1 Global booth as a color commentator.

UFC 236 Press Conference Highlights

UFC 236 will feature a pair of interim title fights. In the main event, UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway will face lightweight contender Dustin Poirier and middleweights Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum will collide in the co-main event. UFC 236 will take place in Atlanta, Ga., on Apr. 13.

Jon Jones retains light heavyweight belt at UFC 235 - VIDEO

Jon Jones retained the UFC light heavyweight belt when he earned a decision over Anthony Smith in the main event of UFC 235.

Kamaru Usman crowned new champ at UFC 235 — VIDEO

Kamaru Usman became the first African-born fighter to claim a UFC belt when he defeated Tyron Woodley to become the promotion's new welterweight champion.

UFC 235 Official Weigh-in Results - VIDEO

All 24 fighters competing at UFC 235 at the T-Mobile Arena on March 2 stepped on the scale prior for the official fight card weigh-ins. All four fighters competing in the title bouts slated for the event made weight.

UFC's Jones says he has no shame after recent drug test results are released - VIDEO

Though recent drug test results still show trace amounts of Turinabol in his system, UFC light heayvweight champion Jon Jones says he has no shame and is hiding nothing as he prepares for his UFC 235 title bout against Anthony Smith.

Anthony Smith stays level-headed prior to UFC 235 title fight - VIDEO

Despite UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones being in the spotlight for drug test discrepancies and other outside the cage struggles, Anthony Smith says he is tuning out the noise and remaining focused on the challenge of beating the reigning champion in the cage.

UFC 235 Media Day Highlights

Highlights and staredowns from the top three fights on the UFC 235 fight card taking place at the T-Mobile Arena on March 2.

Dustin Poirier bloodied Max Holloway and won a unanimous decision for the UFC interim lightweight title on Saturday night, denying Holloway his chance to become only the fourth fighter to hold two belts at the same time.

Dustin Poirier bloodied Max Holloway and won a unanimous decision for the UFC interim lightweight title on Saturday night, denying Holloway his chance to become only the fourth fighter to hold two belts at the same time.